Thanks for the report John.
It sounds like it was a memorable trip, regardless of the complications. Barbara's issues were most definitely altitude issues. She could make it if she just spent a night or two before the hike at Horseshoe Meadows or some other high altitude spot.
Each person responds to the altitude differently -- she just needs more acclimatization than you. If it had been me, I might not have felt better until dropping all the way down to Whitney Portal.
